Fig. 1

Electron tomography of Chlamydomonas basal bodies reveals characteristic 3D organization. a Mature basal bodies template the microtubules of the flagella and are held together at the distal end by a distal striated fiber. The transition zone appears as an electron dense H-shaped structure in longitudinal view. TZ denotes the transition zone and DSF denotes the distal striated fiber. b Cross-sectional view showing distal striated fiber connecting mature basal bodies, two probasal bodies and four bundles of rootlet microtubules in a cruciate arrangement. DSF distal striated fiber, TF transition fiber, pBB probasal body, rMT rootlet microtubules. c Diagram showing distinct structural features of Chlamydomonas basal bodies (Reprinted with permission from Molecular Biology of the Cell; [42]). Bar = 200 nm